A Course in Combinatorial Choreography

Autor/in	Wasley, Paula
Titel	A Course in Combinatorial Choreography
Quelle	In: Chronicle of Higher Education, 54 (2008) 33, (1 Seiten) PDF als Volltext Verfügbarkeit
Sprache	englisch
Dokumenttyp	gedruckt; online; Zeitschriftenaufsatz
ISSN	0009-5982
Schlagwörter	Mathematics Education; Geometric Concepts; Algebra; Heuristics; Movement Education; Teaching Styles + Suchen Sie Ihr Suchwort? Mathematische Bildung; Elementare Geometrie; Heuristik; Bewegungsbildung; Lehrstil; Unterrichtsstil
Abstract	This article describes how students at North Central College do-si-doed their way to a deeper understanding of fractals, fractions, and abstract algebra. As part of the college's "Verandah" curriculum, David J. Schmitz, an associate professor of mathematics, led seven undergraduates, mostly math majors and minors, through an adventure in "math in motion"--otherwise known as square dancing. Verandah is the school's interim-term course of study that emphasizes unconventional learning opportunities in informal settings, and during this two-week course, students met for three hours each weekday to practice some combinatorial choreography and discuss the mathematical functions embodied by their fancy footwork. Mr. Schmitz taught the students 100 basic square-dancing calls (including "Swing Through," "Ferris Wheel," and "Courtesy Turn") and the concepts (like "clockwise" or "in reverse") that can be used to modify the moves. During their daily dancing, the group took frequent breaks to ponder the symmetry of the movements, imagine themselves as inputs or outputs in algebraic functions, or calculate the number of possible permutations that would bring the group back to its original formation. (ERIC).
Anmerkungen	Chronicle of Higher Education. 1255 23rd Street NW Suite 700, Washington, DC 20037. Tel: 800-728-2803; e-mail: circulation@chronicle.com; Web site: http://chronicle.com/
Erfasst von	ERIC (Education Resources Information Center), Washington, DC
Update	2017/4/10